Apparatus for the remote adjustment of the traverse of guns, searchlights, or the like with movable platform toward a movable target



June 10', 1924. 1,497,512

P. KAMINSKI APPARATUS FOR THE REMOTE ADJUSTMENT OF THE TRAVERSE OF GUNS, SEARCHLIGHTS,

7 OR THE LIKE WITH MOVABLE PLATFORM TOWARDS A MOVABLE TARGET Filed Feb. 9, 1923 Patented June 10, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL KAMINSKI, OF BERLIN-PANKOW. GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS & HALSKE, AKTIENGESELI-SCHAFT. OF SIEMENSSTADT, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORA- TION 0F GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR THE REMOTE ADJUSTMENT OF THE TRAVERSE OF GUNS. SEARCH- LIGHTS, OR THE LIKE WITH MOVABLE PLATFORM TOWARD A MOVABLE TARGET.

Application filed February 9, 1928. Serial No. 818,169.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, PAUL KAMINSKI, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Ber'lin-Pankow, Germany. have invented certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for the remote adjustment of the traverse of guns, searchlights. or the like with movable platform toward a movable target, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in apparatus which enables remote control ap paratus, such as is for instance used on bat-- tleships for pointing guns, searchlights and the like, to maintain the correct horizontal position towards a certain target even when the gun telescope has temporarily lost sight of the target owing to smoke. The apparatus is also intended to ascertain the horizontal displacement of the point of impact necessary for firing and caused by the shifting of the positions by both ships.

' The displacement of the point of impact forthe travel of the own ship corresponds with the formula T,=f.t. sine a T z i. sine {5 in which represents-:-- g--- the travel of the enemy in metres per second, t again the time of flight of the projectile and 5 the angle. which the direction of descent of the l)!'0-. jectile forms in the horizontalplane with 'the amidship axis.

Both formulae represent two components from which the total displacement of the point of impact may be construed as resultant,.or into whi h the total displacement, if it be measured otherwise, may be analyzeds For instance the total displacement may also be found bythe formula:

' T20 1:1 (T T in which represents: t again the time of flight and o the angular speed with which the remote control plant connected with the telescope (l, g, and 9 being for instance a rough and a finesystem, which by the diagrammatically shown conductors 1 and 2 of, for instance. a three-wire alternating current system, are connected with the guns and the receivers e, and c of a special receiving station E, which may for instance be situated in the ships electrical central station.

The pointers 2, and 2. controlled from a distance are in the known manner turned to follow counter pointers 2 and a, by means of'a crank ll: through the agency of a counter gearing planet wheel p, and shaft 3.

The pointers z and 2 turn by spur wheels and intermediate members t t the control -transmitters g andg These control members g. and'y; are connected by diagrammatically shown conductors 4 and 5 with the control receivers e and e; at the transmit tmg device G. The pointers 2 and z, of the control receiver co-operate. also With counter pointers 2 2,. which are directly driven by the transmitters g. by way of intermediate members f,.'t, similar .to the device E. The shaft 3 which may be rotated by the crank k, rotatesfurthermore by a counter gearing 6 the frame 6 of a sine link of known construction. The blfitii s, of this link is moved in known manner by rotating the crank k shaft 7, counter gearing 8, 9 and spindle 10. The shaft 7 carries a pointerie b mneans of which th.- adjustment of the crank is, may be read oil upon a dial A divided in accordance with the time of flight Or the distance of the target, which latter contains the time of flight as a function. The link block 8 mow-s the link h, parallel to the beam 11, which is constructed as a rack. This beam 11 rotates through the spur wheel 12 the frame 2), of a second sine link, the block 8 of which is moved by the crank it, through the agency of the shaft 13, transmission gearing 14, 15 and spindle 16. The shaft 13 carries a pointer a which indicates the adjustment of the crank k, on the dial A graduated in correspondence with own travel in metres per second. The block 8 in its turn moves the link It, parallel to its beam 17 constructed as a rack, which through an intermediate aring 18, 19 drives the shaft 20. The shaf t 20 turns through a transmission gearing 21 the pointer 2,, which passes over a dial A graduated in correspondence with the horizontal correction for own travel. The shaft 20 also causes through the gearing 22 the shifting of friction roller 1*, upon the screw spindle 23. The friction roller r, takes up the motion of friction disc 7,- driven by a motor M through a transmission gearing 24 and shaft 25 and transmits it to a second friction disc f Which through the agency of a gearing 26, 27 drives a planet wheel 1),. This planet wheel p, is connected through the bevel wheel 28 with the: planet wheel p, fixed upon the shaft 3.

The shaftv 25 driven b the motor M drives furthermore throug a friction disc f, and the friction roller 1*, movable upon the spindle 29 b the crank 7a,, the friction disc f,. This disc rotates through, intermediate gearings 30, 31, a reversing drive W of conventional construction the bevel 32 and therethrough the planet wheel 1), upon the shaft 33. Upon the planet wheel 11, also acts the' roscope compass K through a beveLgearmg 34. The shaft 33 is connected with the planet wheel 7), through the bevel .wheel 35.

The spindle 29 turned by the handle 1',

turns furthermore through the agency of 'an intermediate gearing 36 the shaft 37 upon which is fixed a cam C The contour of this cam depends upon the approximately quadratically varying ratio of trans mission between the discs f and f.,. which through the shape of the cam C is to be converted into a uniform motion. The cam C moves the block 8 guided in the slot of the stationary link h This block a, is also adapted to slide in the slot'of a link h,, which is rotatable around the axis of the tubular-shaft 38 upon which it is fixed. The angular motion of this link it, is transmitted to the planet wheel p, upon the shaft 42 through the intermediate gearing 39, 40 and the bevel wheel 41, the said planet wh el bein on the other hand connected throug beve wheel 43 with the shaft 7 adapted to be rotated by the crank 10,. The shaft 42 carries at its free end a cam G which is shaped in correspondence with the curve, representin the time of flight as a function of the distance. Against the periphery of this cam C is ressed by a spring (not shown) the link I) ock a, guided in the slot of link It, previously mentioned, block a, engaging with its free end the link h,. The link h can move only in the direction of its rack bar 44. This rack gears with a pinion 45, the shaft 46 of which moves the pointer 2 over the dial A graduated according to lateral correction for enemys travel.

Such a mechanical gearing for adjustin an element, like the pointer 2, in accor ancewith twodifferent, variable values, as represented by the cams C (1 may, independently of the other here described pecularities of the construction illustrated, be generally utilized for apparatus where pointers are to be adjusted or other parts to be directly controlled, such as guns, searchlights, etc.

The transmitting station G of the control telescope O and the receiving station E are assumed to be also connected by an optic or acoustic order transmittin installation of any conventional form not illustrated here and which operates independently of file system described and which may consist for instance of a semaphore, a telegraph, a telephone or a speaking tube.

The apparatus 0 erates as'follows':

The operator at adjusts the distance of the target (or time of flight) by means of the crank 7:, upon the dial A and the own ships travel by means of the handle is, u n the dial A in accordance with the o ers received from the order station G by means of the separate order transmitting installation, mentioned just before. He starts the motor M and throws in the reversing gear corresponding with the instructions received from the observer at the gun telescope. \Vith the target location, operations by the telescope the transmitters g, and g, are actuated and therebythe receiver pointers z, and 2 are adjusted. For the first target finding operations (as well as when changing the target) the operator at E causes the counter pointers 2 and 2 to coincide with the pointers 2, and z by turning the handle 70,. Hereby the pointers 2,, and a, at the transmitting station G are caused to coincide simultaneously with the pointers a, and 2 carried along by the transmitters g and 9,. After the pointers have been made to coincide the crank k is released and mechanicall locked in position in any suitable manner shot shown). By turning the crank k also the frame I), is simultaneously turned in correspondence with the side position (angle a) by the agency of the intermediate aring 6, and as the time of flight is adusted upon the dial A,, the rack 11 is moved automatically by the amount time of flight multiplied by sine a. The frame b is moved by the same amount. As on the dial A the own travel has been adjusted, the rack 17 and the gearing operated thereby (up to shaft 23) is moved in correspondence with the formula:

time of flight a: own travel a: sine (1..

This motion represents the necessary lateral correction for own travel, which now can be read off on the dial A It may now first be assumed that the enemy is stationary, the friction roller 1-, is in zero position (i. e. in contact with the center of disk f,) and the own ship maintains her exact course, which means that the %roscope compass K remains stationary. y rotating the shaft 23, as previously mentioned, the friction roller 1', has been shifted radially on disk f, in corres ndence with the movements of the own ip and the distance of the target and themotor now turns in correspondence with these adjustments through gear 24, 25, discs f,, f, and bevel gears 26, 27 the planet wheel 11,. As the bevel wheel 35 remains stationa under the above assumptions, 2,, in ro ling off on wheel 35 turns through the agency of the bevel wheel 28 and the planet wheel 1), the shaft 3 and thereby the counter pointers 2, and 2,, travel automatically in correspondence with the variation in the target-bearing. The pointers 2, and 2 re-. motely cont-rolled b the telescope, holdin the target, remain t erefore without speciafi I instructions for setting at the receiving station E in coincidence with the pointers 2 and 2,. As in the zero osition of the friction roller 1, the two inks h, and h, are parallel, the rotation of the cam C during the adjustment of the distance of the target (or time of flight) b means of the handle 1:, by the agenc. of the shaft 7, bevel wheel 43, planet whee p, only a displacement ofv the link"b'lock in the slot of link h, but no motion of this link and-therefore no adjustment of the pointer 2 of the target and the alteration of the lateral position resulting therefrom the position of the pointer a and the friction roller 1, is automatically changed by the shaft 3 through the agency of the gear 6 and the frame b,.

If it'is now assumed that the own ship and shaft 42 has caused.

Corresponding with the change turns, the bearings of the target, that means the lateral position, will also change for each degree throu h which the ship turns. The shifting of t e pointers z, and a, as well as of the frame b depending upon this, is in this case caused automatically by the gyroscope compass K through'the bevel gear 34, planet wheel p ','shaft 33, bevel wheel 35, planet wheel 3),, bevel wheel 28, planetwheel p, and shaft 3. The unintended small deviation of the ship from her course owin to careless steering are hereby als'o correcte at all times.

Finally it may be assumed that the course of the own ship does not vary and the compass K remains stationary and the enemy travels a arallel course at equal s ed in a running fight. As hereby no deviation of the bearing and consequently no change in the lateral osition takes place, the pointers z, and z, s ould remain stationa as the pointers 2, and a, do not move. T e pointers z, and a, are however moved, according to the extent of adjustment of friction roller '2", throu h the motor M by means the planet whee 1),. To counteract this movement the friction roller 1', is adjusted from zero position by the crankhandle In, until the pointers z, and 2, remain stationary in coincidence with the pointers 2, and 2 that means the attendance at the station E subsequent to the first adjustment due to the searching for the target, by means of the crank k is confined to the operator at the station E maintaining his counter pointers 2 and 2,, in coincidence with the remotely controlled pointers 2 and z. This happens when the motion of the shaft 25, driven by the motor M and transmitted by the discs f and f gear 30 and 31, reversing gear W, bevel wheel 32, planet wheel shaft 33 and wheel 35 to the planet whee is equal to the motion transmitted by the gear 27. The position of the friction roller 1', is therefore a measure for the deviation of'the target caused by the run of the enemy. Its radial adjustment is transmitted through shaft 29 block a, is raised, which swings the link It, around the axis of the tubular shaft 38 and thereby also moves the link k by means of the block 8 adjusted in accordance with the time of flight. In this manner the pointer 2,, is moved over the dial A by a value corover gearing 36, 37 to cam C Hereby the equal speed for instance in a circular plus and the wheel 32 runs at the same speed in the opposite direction. The'transmission to the planet wheel 3), is however in the circular fight nowso changed by the gyroscope compass K through the agenc of the gearing'"34, that the planet whee and thereby the bevel wheel 35 have again the same speed as the gearing 24, that means' the pointers rema'in stationary. The ballistic lateral correction is now a function of the travels of both'ships. i

The pointer 2 is at first turned into the PfOSitiOIrCOIl'GSPOHdiHg to the direction in which the enemy appears and then it is moved with the same angular-velocity as the enemy apparently moves. The pointer 2 is at first turned into the opposite position to the pointer 2 by turning the crank it, (the crank/ c being thereafter mechanically locked). Therefore the relative position of these two pointers 2,, 2 is, after a short time, a measure of the value a) in the above formulae. Since fronrthe intermediate gear 27- the value T of the first formula is transferred to the'planet wheel p. it follows that at each instance theposition of the friction roller- 7' and therefore of the link h always corresponds with the value T /t. As the block 8 adjusted according to the time of flight, multiplies this value with t, it follows that the position of the pointer 2 must at all speeds 1 courses of the enemy supply the correspond- 7 ,to'the described princlple of the pointers in lateral correction.

T f the operator at the station E has adjusted the pointers 2 and z, in correspondence with the motion of the pointers z, and z, and the guiding telescope at station '.G loses sight the targetfor instance owing to smoke, the observer at the telescope after having given appropriate orders over aseparate order transmission system '(for instance: do not follow.) 'without making special adjustments may turn the telescope in such a manner, that he turns his pointers z, and a to follow the po' ters 2,, and a which'rotate as before. ii h abates the observer will tlpn still have the former target covered by his telescope, even if the course hasbeen changed .or the ship has lurchedunintentionally.

Fig. 2 illustrates .a slightly modified construction, which in its essential features corresponds with Fig. 1, with the exception that the friction gearing has been somewhat modified. Equal or similar parts have been indicated by the same reference numerals or letters as in Fig. 1. The essential difl'erenceas compared with the construction illustrated in Fi 1 is, that the motor M drives only a simp e pair of friction discs f f .xthrough the agency of the gearing 24and shaft 25. 1 v

This combination of the friction gears requires also adiflerent disposal'of the reen the smoke versing-geai', as the sum or difference of the components of motion of both ships must already be contained in the position of the friction roller 13. In the modified apparatus shown in this figure the shaft acts therefore through the intermediate gear 47 upon a planet wheel p which by means of a spindle 48 adjusts the friction roller 1-, corresponding with the motion of the own ship. The crank it, acts upon gearing 36 by way of the shaft 29 and hence as described before. From the shaft 29 the planet wheel p, is simultaneously rotated through the intermediate gearing 49, 50, the reversing gear W and the intermediate gearing'fil, so that hereby the friction roller 1- is additionally adjusted corresponding with the motion of the enemy. The adjustment of the friction roller 1', chan the ratio of transmission between the riction disc f driven by the motor M, as already described and the disc f. This disc transmits its motion as already described, b

way of gear 30, 31, 32, lanet wheel 1),, shafi: 33, bevel wheeland planet Wheel p, to the shaft 3, which causes the counter pointers to follow.

' The combination of the two components of the run of both. shi s ma aside from the two manners described, ai so be effected in an other suitable manner, for instance by a evel gea'ring.

" The invention is furthermore not confined which follow each other, but may equall well be employed for direct remote control: For this purpose the handle k, is substituted by a driving mechanism, such as' a small motor, which in-known manner is connected by contact devices with the receiver systems 6 and 6 and which shifts the friction roller 1, until following the turning of the linkwork driven by the friction disc i "these contacts are opened again. The central transmitting station C is then preferably fitted with a switch, by means of which in, the event the target is obscured by smoke or theilike, the apparatus otherwise connected with the'transmitters' g and g, is switched over to the reserve transmitters g a'rid g and with which it simultaneousl interrupts the circuit of the motor, which replaces the crank 70,. 1

It will be; understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of thev parts shown and that.

these may be varied within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. I

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. Improved apparatus for the remote adjustment towards a movable target of the traverse of a gun, search light or the like having a movable platform, comprising in combination a directing telescope for following the target. an electric system consisting of a transmitter and a receiver of the follow the pointer type and adapted to transmit the lateral angular movements of said telescope, a plurality of driving devices for turning the control pointer of the receiver of said system, a plurality of mechanical elements adapted to regulate the agencies of said driving devices with regard to the movement of the platform and of the target, and means for turning said driving devices simultaneously according to the actual positions of said elements.

2. Improved apparatus for the remote adjustment towards a movable target of the traverse of a gun, search light or the like having a movable platform, comprising in combination a directing telescope for following the target. an electric system consisting of a plurality of transmitters and receivers of the follow the pointer -ty e for fina and coarse transmission of t e lateral angular movements of said telescope, a plurality of driving device's-for turning the control pointers of the receivers for fine and coarse adjustment of said system, a plurality of mechanical elements adapted to regulate the agencies of said driving devices with regard to the movement of the plat?- form and of the target, and means for turning said driving devices simultaneously according to the actual positions of said ele-' ments.

3. Improved apparatus for the remote adjustment towards a movable target of the traverse-of a' gun, search light or the like having a movable platform, comprising'in *combina-tion-a directing tel'escopefior following the target, an electric system consistin of a transmitter and a receiver of the ollow the pointer type and adapted to transmit the lateral angular movements of said telescope, a driving device for tuming the control pointer of the receiver of sa1d system, a group of mechanical elements adapted to regulate the agency of said device in' correspondence with the formula T,=f. t. sin a, a second driving device for turning independently the control pointer of said receiver, a second group of mechani-. cal elements adapted to regulate the agency ofsaid second driving device for the additional amount as to enable said control pointer to follow the pointer of said receiver.

4. Improved apparatus for the remote adjustment towards a movable target of the traverse of a gun, search light or the like having a movable platform, comprising in combination a directing telescope for fol- 1 lowing the target, an electric system consist of atransmitter and a receiver of the ollow the pointer. type and adapted to transmit the lateral ang lar movements and a measuring device connected of said telescope, a device. including frict1o n gears, for turning the control pomter of sa1d recelver, a motor for drlvlng sa1d friction gears, a group of mechanical elements group of mechanical elements adapted to regulate the action df said second device of friction gears to move said control pointer an additional amount so as to cause it to follow the. pointer of said receiver.

In an apparatus of the kind described comprising a directing telescope for following the target, an electric system comprising a transmitter and receiver of the follow the pointer type for transmitting the lateral angular movements of said directing telescope, two devices, including friction gears, for turning independently of each other the control pointer of said receiver, two groups of mechanical elements for regulating independently of each other the, agencies of said friction gear devices so as to enable the control pointer to follow the pointer of said receiver, and means for indicating the actuation of each of said de- 6. .In an apparatusof the kind described comprising in combination a directing telescope and an electric system of the follow the pointer type for transmitting the lateral angular movements of said telescope. means for turning the 'controlinter of said receiver, an electric controlhng device comprising a transmitter and arece'iver of the follow the pointer type and an element coupled to said device and adapted to move the.- pointer bf the transmitter of said controlling system in correspondence with the turn of said first named control pointer.

7. In an apparatus of the kind described the combination of a directing telescope, an electric system consisting of a transmitter and a receiver adapted to transmit the lateral angular movements of said telescope,

means for turning the control ointer of said receiver into opposition to t e pointer of said receiver, and a compass connected to said means for regulating said means according to changes of the course of the ship on which the apparatus is carried.

8. In an apparatus for correcting the o a di- -transmission of an lar movements recting telescope, t e combination of a lurality of sine link devices, a group of t mechanical elements connected to said sine link devices and adapted to transmit thereto the lateral telescope angle, the time of flight t and the velocity of the own ship f, to sand sine link devices for indicating he total adjustment according to the own travel (formula T =f.t. sin a) effected by said sine link devices.

9. In an apparatus of the kind described the combination of a directing telescope,

an electric system consisting of a transmitter and a receiver of the follow the pointer type for transmitting the lateral angles of said telescope, a group of devices for turning the control pointer of said receiver, a plurality of elements for controlling the ac tuation of said devices to turn said counter pointer with a velocity according to the formula T fit. sin a. another group of d e vices for turning said control pointer of said receiver independently of said firstdevices an additional amount 'so' as to enable said control pointer to follow the pointer of said receiver, an arrangement comprising a plurality of cooperating slotted links,.can1s and blocks coupled to said second group of devices, means for transmitting thetime of flight to said last-named arrangement, and a measuring device connected to aforesaid arrangement and adapted to indicate the component of the change of the point of impact due to the movement of the target (T =g.t. sin a) adjusted by aforesaid arrangement.

10. In an apparatus of the kind described the combination of a directing telescope, an electric system consisting of a transmitter and a receiver of the follow the pointer type for transmitting the lateral angular movements of said telescope, a group of devices for turning the control pointer of said receiver, means for adjusting said devices according to the lateral telescope angle a and to the velocity of the own ship,

another group of devices for turning said control pointer inde endently of said first devices and to an a ditional amount so as to enable it to follow the pointer of said re- 'eeive-r, an arrangement comprising a plurality of cooperating slotted links, cams and blocks coupled to said second group of devices, and a mechanical element for controlling the adjusting movement of said means and the operation of said arrangement according to the time of flight.

11. In an apparatus of the type described an arrangement for mechanically constructing the product of two variable functions.

comprising in combination a rotatable cam rel'n'esenting by its periphery the curve of one of the variable functions, a block adapted to slide on the periphery of said cam, a second cam representing by its periphery the curve of the other variable function. a second block adapted to slide on the periphery of said second cam, a link having a slot adapted to guide said blocks, an indicating device, and means for transmitting to said indicating device the change of position of said blocks.

12. In an apparatus of the type described an arrangement for mechanically constructing the product of two variable functions and of a proportional variable value, comprising in combination a rotatable cam, representing by its periphery the curve of one of said functions, a block adapted to slide on the periphery of said cam, another r'otatable cam representing by its periphery the curve of the second of said functions, a second block adapted to slide on the periphery of said second cam, a link having a slot adapted to guide said blocks, means for moving said link according to the proportional variable value, an indicating device, and means for transmitting to said indicating device the change of position of said blocks and of said link.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PAUL KAMINSKI. 

